We ventured further afield to the Lenches.

Firstly some general knowledge (inspired by the discovery that nobody on the walk knew what a lench might be). A lench is a ridge or high ground. Any cyclist, of which we saw many, might have guessed this.

The Lenches are:

• Ab Lench – derived from a name, but was Hob Lench and Abbotts Lench
• Atch Lench – from East or a person’s name.
• Church Lench – as it has the church but was Lench Roculf once due to the owners of the manor.
• Rous Lench, named after the Rous family,
• Sherriff’s Lench – named after the Sheriff of Worcestershire.

Now you know.

We started from the village hall in Church Lench and soon had spectacular views from the high ground towards the Malverns.

We circled around enjoying walking along the ridges looking at the quintessential English countryside, that combination of cultivated fields, hedges and woodland over an undulating landscape.

We eventually reached Rous Lench for lunch. As there was a wedding, we didn’t get to visit the church, but we have visited on previous occasions and it is filled with all sorts of historic oddities that will entertain, with many references to the Rous family. Instead we sat on the village green and admired the architecture, including the poshest post box in England.

We then made our way back to Church Lench, passing a deer park and a few other oddities.

All of a sudden, after a long, grey winter, all the trees are in leaf and flowers are abundant. We returned to Church Lench having had an excellent walk thanks to Glenys and Jerry’s research.